Back to the Green Bay Packers Newsfeed

Cheese Curds, 11/24: Packers’ 3rd down defense is worse than raw numbers suggest

Believe it or not, the Green Bay Packers’ defense ranks 12th in the NFL on third downs. Their opponents have converted just 39.5% of their third down attempts, good for 12th in the NFL, and the Packers rank near the top of the league on third-and-long.

So why are Packers fans — and head coach Matt LaFleur — so frustrated with the defense?

Perhaps it is the fact that certain schemes have appeared to be responsible for the conversions that do occur. It’s one thing when a cornerback is pressing and challenging a receiver only to see that player break a tackle and pick up the first down; that’s an individual problem that’s disappointing, to be sure, but not a schematic one.